title: Reduction in microparticle adsorption using a lateral interconnection method in a PDMS-based microfluidic device.
abstract: Microparticle adsorption on microchannel walls occurs frequently due to nonspecific interactions, decreasing operational performance in pressure-driven microfluidic systems. However, it is essential for delicate manipulation of microparticles or cells to maintain smooth fluid traffic. Here, we report a novel microparticle injection technique, which prevents particle loss, assisted by sample injection along the direction of fluid flow. Sample fluids, including microparticles, mammalian (U937), and green algae (Chlorella vulgaris) cells, were injected directly via a through hole drilled in the lateral direction, resulting in a significant reduction in microparticle attachment. For digital microfluidic application, the proposed regime achieved a twofold enhancement of single-cell encapsulation compared to the conventional encapsulation rate, based on a Poisson distribution, by reducing the number of empty droplets. This novel interconnection method can be straightforwardly integrated as a microparticle or cell injection component in integrated microfluidic systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Do-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Je-Kyun
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048408:Chlorella vulgaris / Q000166:cytology; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009757:Nylons; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D009757:Nylons; C085707:poly(dimethylsiloxane)-polyamide copolymer
keywords: Cell injection; Droplet-based microfluidics; Lateral interconnection; Particle adsorption; Single-cell encapsulation